South Bend seeks path forward as investigators fail to find cause for fire that killed 6 kids
Dec. 12, 2025
SOUTH BEND — State and local investigators have not been able in 11 months to reach a scientific conclusion about the cause of the January fatal fire that killedg six children in the city's West Washington neighborhood. They announced at a Dec. 11 press conference they had found the cause of the fire to be "undetermined."
“This fire — just because it got so big and the intensity — we could not come to a scientific definitive answer as to exactly what the cause of the fire was,” Indiana Fire Marshal Steve Jones said in a Dec. 11 press conference following an 11-month investigation.
Thousands of hours were invested in the investigation, Jones said, saying that no stones were left unturned in the quest for answers.
Caught in the Jan. 21, 2024 fire's blaze were six children and their father, David Smith, in their rental house at 222 N. LaPorte Ave. The fire spread quickly, as Smith told The Tribune at the time he thought there was nothing he could do as flames spread along the walls. The youngest children: 10-year-old Demetris, 9-year-old Davida, 5-year-old Deontay, 4-year-old D'Angelo and 17-month-old Faith Smith died in the house. The eldest daughter, 11-year-old Angel, was transported to Indiana University Health’s Riley Children’s Health burn unit, where she died five days later, on Jan. 26.
Though the investigation findings were ruled as "undetermined," Jones said it's a common determination, especially in situations where a definitive cause couldn't be determined despite exhaustive efforts.
Jones expressed condolences to the Smith family — David Smith sat in the front row — as he recited each child's name.
"My heart goes out to them during this incredibly difficult time," he said. "...We grieve along side of you. We've worked tirelessly to figure out what happened and why the fire started."
Where does the investigation go from here?
The investigation isn't closed, said David Hosick, director of communications with Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
New evidence could emerge, Jones said.
"The investigation with the evidence we have currently is closed," Hosick said. "However, our investigations are never really completely shut."
The investigation report remains confidential to protect parties involved, Jones said. It will be available through proper legal channels when appropriate, he said.
At this point, the IDHS says it has completed a thorough investigation and examined everything there is to examine.
"The only thing that could change the circumstances of the investigation would be availability of additional evidence," Hosick said.
Failed house inspection
The home, located at 222 N. LaPorte Ave., previously failed a federally mandated safety inspection six months before the fire, the Housing Authority of South Bend confirmed to The Tribune.
In a Feb. 15 press release, the IDHS said they were aware of the "documented history of electrical issues at the home" but hadn't determined if those issues were resolved before the incident. Jones declined to disclose the specifics of the investigation at a Dec. 11 press conference. He reiterated that in order to determine an exact cause, "scientifically, we've got to be able to demonstrate that."
Key findings in the investigation
Jones said investigators reached four main conclusions:
The fire started in the family and dining room.
Investigators can't determine if a smoke alarm went off during the incident. Smoke detectors were found in the home, but witnesses and Smith said they couldn't hear a smoke alarm, Jones said. A smoke alarm could also not be heard in the 911 call, he said.
Electrical items were identified as potential ignition sources but could not definitively be proven to be the fire's origin, Jones said.
No evidence of criminal activity or arson was found.
Timeline breakdown
Surveillance video from a church across the street from the house helped investigators build a pretty reliable timeline of the events of that night.
6:08: A glow in a downstairs window shows the start of the fire, with the family upstairs and unaware, Jones said.
6:10:50: The southeast first floor window broke downstairs due to the heat. The family was still unaware, Jones said.
6:11.33: The video shows the family is aware of something downstairs.
6:11:57: Smith was seen dropping down from the second story to the outside.
6:12:53: Smith was seen trying to re-enter from outside into the home.
6:14: First 911 call alerts South Bend Fire Department.
6:17:43: South Bend Fire arrived on the scene.
"That fire was absolutely huge," Jones said. "It was a very difficult incident."
The fire had engulfed the house before emergency services were called, he said. Jones commended South Bend fire for being swift and professional in their response.
A path toward healing
After 11 months, Smith said he’s getting back to normal — until today.
The Dec. 11 press conference and public update of his family’s fire brought back a lot of memories and emotions, he said. Jones met with Smith prior to the press conference and told him of the investigation’s findings. Smith was emotional as Jones provided the public a timeline of his family’s fire, leaving the room for a few minutes.
These days, Smith said, he thinks about his six youngest children daily. He looks at their picture every morning, he said. He misses his interactions with his kids — telling them to clean up, going fishing and camping.
“Otherwise, I’ve been taking it day by day,” Smith said. He’s working and keeping his mind busy, he said.
Though the investigation didn’t determine the cause of the fire, Smith said he agreed with Jones.
“Things take time," he said. "You can’t determine something you can’t see.”
Ongoing firefighter trauma
South Bend firefighters are also still dealing with the physical, emotional and mental impacts of that day, their chief said.
"We live with this tragedy each and every day," South Bend Fire Chief Carl Buchanon said. "We do not take it lightly."
Buchanon provided an update on the firefighter who fell through the floor during the rescue.
“He’s still suffering from those injuries, but he’s back at work,” Buchanon said. “But still, not unscathed.”
The emotional and mental toll on firefighters from that night will never go away, he said.
“We don’t expect it to — not this particular incident or any of our incidents where we have a fatality,” Buchanon said. “We understand that this is the nature of our business. … We’re always gonna be susceptible to see and be involved in these things, unfortunately.”
In place for firefighters is a strong peer support team inside and outside of their organization to help firefighters do their job to the best of their abilities, he said.
“You can’t ignore it and say … ‘Keep your chin up and just go out there and do your job,’” he said. “We’re all human beings and we’re all affected by our surroundings and emotionally attached to everything in our community — whether we look it or not.”
Fire prevention
Part of moving forward is looking to fire prevention, especially as South Bend enters another winter, South Bend Mayor James Mueller said. Winters and dry conditions present the opportunity for fires to get out of control.
"We should leave here thinking, 'How can we prevent that from happening again?" Buchanon said.
All of us should have a part in that, he said.
More: Create a safety plan! House fires can be mitigated with a safety plan, detectors and other equipment
South Bend has a free smoke alarm program. Qualified technicians will come and install them into resident's homes. Money should not be a deterrent, Buchanon said. He also encouraged fire education, including having an evacuation plan and discussing with children what to do in case there's a fire in the home.
"As long as I'm the fire chief of South Bend Fire Department, I will always have be an advocate for those that don't have and those that need," he said. "If we have an ability to provide those, we should be doing it."